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++++++++ incoming transmission +++++++++++
verifying originator....
ODM
322.995.M41
uplink established.....
Sgt. Kraken appriased
his squad with a practiced eye. Vanilus and Brachus were performing pre-battle checks of their Assault Cannons, the high-pitched
whir of the spinning barrels only a fraction of the angry bark the Sacred weapons would loose once the ammunition was loaded
and safety removed. Troopers Gravus and Paulis tramped into the short corridoor to the waiting drop pod, each bowing
their heads to the Promarch as they crossed over the threshhold. Variations on the same theme were taking place across the
flight deck, as four full squads of hulking Terminators prepared for battle. Mind-wiped servitors and serfs hustled to and
fro amongst the hulking figures, but the Terminators themselves all moved with a grim, quite confidence.
Kraken thought back to the briefing given by Captain Dante in their secure Sanctitorium.
None of the unitiniated Brothers of the Battle Companies could be allowed to even know of this mission. Librarian Septimus
was already planet-side, driving the troublesome Guard formation towards a final confrontation, and capture of their Fallen
quarry. But a new wrinkle had turned up. Traitors. A force of Chaos Marines, the vile Word Bearers, had been detected
lying in wait along the Guard's path. Were they in league with the Guard? Did they plan to retrieve the captive for themselves,
or was something even greater in motion?
It did not matter their plans. Captain Dante was leading this strike force himself
to ambush the ambushers, and destroy them in detail. Then the fleeing Guard formation would be crushed between the two mighty
Deathwing forces. Land Raider Crusader Victorius would fix the Traitors' positions, and tear a hole with its deadly cargo, then
the drop pod force would strike to finish them off.
Sergeant Kraken strode forwards to the entryway, pausing to read the inscription
above the portal, to add his own prayer to the Lion, before advancing to join his squad.
Setup
The Word Bearers set
up with Havoc Squads at either end of their line and a tactical squad in the middle. Each squad had Icon Bearers capable of
being the focus for summoning. The Dark Apostle and his command squad w/ melta guns infiltrated to the right patch of woods
while another full strength squad with another summoning Champion set up in the left patch of woods.
The Deathwing Crusader with six man Lightning
Claw Assault Squad led my a Sergeant with a Thunder Hammer set up behind the woods in the middle. A Master leading a Command
Squad with two Heavy Flamers, and three other 5 man squads were awaiting deployment by drop pod. One of these was armed with two
Assault Cannons, one two Cyclone Missile Launchers, and one mixed.
Turn 1 – Crusader
Assault
Deathwing Move
The Crusader charged straight
into the woods ahead and popped smoke. Assault Squad disembarked into the forest.
Deathwing Close Assault
The Assault Squad charged
into the Dark Apostle and his men, killing 5 in a Lightning Claw Frenzy.
Word Bearer Move
All Squads hold their positions.
Word Bearer Shooting
The Havoc Squad on the left flank opens
fire and a missile glances against the smoke covered Crusader, blowing it up!
Word Bearer Close
Assault
The last three Word Bearers
are killed at a loss of three of the Deathwing. One to the Marines, and two to the Dark Apostle.
Turn 2 – The
Apostle Strikes Back
Deathwing Move
Two drop pods crash to earth,
the Command Squad next to the left Havoc Squad and the dual Cyclone Squad behind the Assault Squad in the left woods.
Deathwing Shooting
The Command Squad's Heavy
Flamers fry one Havoc while the Cyclone Squad drops two of the Assault Marines.
Deathwing Close Assault
Another LC Marine falls to the Dark Apostle.
Word Bearer Move
The threatenend Havoc Squad
summoned a batch of Plague Bearers, who immediately move to threaten the Deathwing Command Squad. The Word Bearer Assault
Squad charges out of the woods to face the Deathwing.
Word Bearer Shooting
The Havoc Squad kills a Deathwing
trooper from the Command Squad, while the Assault Squad kills one Deathwing trooper from the Cyclone Squad. The Tactical and
Havoc Squads to the right can not see any targets other than the drop pods, which they damage beyond repair.
Word Bearer Close Assault
Another LC Marine falls to the Dark Apostle.
The Plague Bearers charge the Command Squad and the Assault Squad Charges the Cyclone Squad. Half the Plague Bearers are killed
without causing any casualties. However, the Assault Squad kill two more Deathwing losing only one traitor.
Turn 3 – The
Horror! The Horror!
Deathwing Move
Another drop pod arrives
between the first two, unloading the mixed heavy weapon squad.
Deathwing Shooting
The squad opens fire and
kill three Havocs in a storm of fire.
Deathwing Close
Combat
The Command Squad kills the
remaining Plague Bearers and moves into the woods. The last Deathwing in the Cyclone Squad fall, but not before killing
two more Assault Marines. The LC Trooper fends off the Dark Apostle.
Word Bearer Move
The surviving Assault Word
Bearers summon a group of Flaming Horrors. They then round the Drop Pod to face the newly arrived Deathwing Squad, the Horrors
moving into a firing position behind them.
Word Bearer Shooting
The remaining Havoc is not
able to do any damage. However, the combined fire from the far right Havoc Squad, the Horrors, and the Assault Squad's Melta
Guns kill 2 of the newly arrive Deathwing.
Word Bearer Close
Combat
The Dark Apostle finally
kills the last LC Deathwing and consolidates across the river. The Assault Squad charges in on the mixed Deathwing Squad,
killing one Terminator at a loss of one more traitor.
Turn 4 – Demons,
Demons Everywhere...
Deathwing Move
The last drop pod does not
arrive. The Command Squad moves into the cover of the trees.
Deathwing Shooting
The Command Squad kills the
last Havoc.
Deathwing Close Combat
The two Deathwing in
the mixed squad kill two more Word Bearers evening the numbers.
Word Bearer Move
The Dark Apostle sprints
across the field toward the combat, summoning two gaggles of Daemonettes on the way! The Flaming Horrors start to cross the
river. The Champion in combat summons a mass of Blood Letters that land on the drop pod behind him and rush up the hill toward
the Command Squad in the forest.
Word Bearer Shooting
The Horrors cannot do any damage to the
Command Squad in the woods.
Word Bearer Close Assault.
The last Assault Squad member and a Deathing
Cyclone Terminator kill each other, and the Sergeants trade blows, unable to finish it. The Blood Letters barrel into the
Deathwing Command Squad and kill them all outright without losing a Demon.
Turn 5 –
Late to the Party
Deathwing Moves
The last drop pod comes down,
across the board near the right flank havocs. The squads disembarks using the drop pod to shield themselves.
Deathwing Shooting
The squad opens fire with 2 Assault Cannons
and three storm bolters, wiping out the entire Havoc Squad.
Deathwing Close Combat
The lone Deathwing Sergeant,
surrounded by Demons, falls to the Word Bearer Sergeant.
Word Bearer Moves
The Demons all turn and start
trudging across the board. The Assault Squad Sergeant moves towards the last intact drop pod on the left flank.
Word Bearer Shooting
The Tactcal Squad opens fire
but cannot destroy the final drop pod.
Word Bearer Close Assault
The Word Bearer Assault Sergeant blows
up the drop pod with his Power Fist, almost killing himself.
Turn 6 –
Time to call for Extraction
Deathwing Moves
The Squad mover aroung the
side of the drop pod to get LOS on the approaching Daemonettes.
Deathwing Shooting
Lots of rounds find targets,
but the Demons' skin protects them and they keep on coming.
Word Bearer Moves
The Demon army moves closer
to the last Deathwing Squad.
Word Bearer Shooting
The Tactical Squad manages
to drop one of the Deathwing Troopers.
Sgt. Kraken voxed to his squad to retreat to Extraction Zone Delta. Although, the Deathwing moved with practiced
efficiency, providing overwatch as one by one they moved to disengage, Kraken knew they felt the same overwhelming frustration as
he did. The impotence at their inability to affect the battle.
Their drop pod had malfunctioned upon launch, and precious minutes ticked away as the crew struggled to release it
from the Battle Barge. Kraken and his squad had listened in horrified silence as intiial success waned and Demons and traitors
tore their companions apart. They listened to brutal combats and heroic last stands, without being able to add their
firepower and experience to the fight. Upon landing they had quickly dispatched the stunned Havoc Squad near their position,
then turned to face the valley. Over the vox, they heard the last holdout, Sergeant Vixus fall with a muttered oath, and almost
faltered as the tide of demons approached. But they were Deathwing, and Deathwing do not falter. Kraken ordered an immediate
attack. Explosive rounds blew through the obscene forms of the capering Daemonettes, but still they came forward,
towering Blood Letters and Amorphous Horrors behind. Realizing the futility of their deaths too, Sgt. Kraken voxed for extraction.
The Thunderhawk came in low over the
waves in a spray of water, right behind Kraken and his squad wading through the surf, firing up at the Demons cresting
the hilltop. Trooper Gravus hauled the wounded Paulis onto the boarding ramp, then helped the others embark, all firing as
they stumbled aboard.
++++++++ transmission ended +++++++++++
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